• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

DICE new boss says it has ‘no time’ for Mirror’s Edge-style projects: ‘We’re focusing only on Battlefield’

Three

Member
lol yea, before this they could do anything and EA never had no input /s

I'm not shocked as I'm sure that sequel didn't do well and the rumor about DICE not doing a Star Wars game shows they no longer want the team split between several projects.

Just cause it worked with a few titles back then, doesn't mean it was without a cost to quality in the long run. Hats off to them for pulling off Mirror's Edge, BF1 and Battlefront 1, that is no easy feat, but clearly that shit took a toll and they just can't keep doing that shit expecting to keep up the quality.
Sorry, bad choice of words. I meant EA need DICE now for their GaaS ventures and they are not like Pandemic or Bullfrog where EA no longer needed them with where they were going.
 

BadBurger

Banned
After BF2042, DICE is basically a nothing of a studio. I hate to say/write that for any cog in the wheel working there who might read this, but it's clear the leadership there is beyind saving. Move on, let it die. Just another EA studio to implode after EA got too involved.
 

nbkicker

Member
And this is why gaming is starting to get so boring as on the ps2, ps3 etc there was a massive range in game types, companys wernt afraid to try something different and new, now it just the same small amount of games made over and over again
 

Tams

Member
Last legit ass wonderful BF was Bad Company 2, I’m sure I’m the minority for saying that but i means that shit
I loved BF1.

But yes, Battlefield Bad Company 2 was just on another level. One of the few games I've bothered to finish in one sitting.

BF4 was okay. The story was utter pants though.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Blah Blah Blah Sock Puppet GIF by Your Happy Workplace
 

TheStam

Member
I'm surprised that they've only managed to add a single new map since launch. Haven't bothered to check it out yet, but doesn't feel like a huge "win". We used to get so much more content. I suppose covid is a factor, but still..
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
lol yea, before this they could do anything and EA never had no input /s

I'm not shocked as I'm sure that sequel didn't do well and the rumor about DICE not doing a Star Wars game shows they no longer want the team split between several projects.

Just cause it worked with a few titles back then, doesn't mean it was without a cost to quality in the long run. Hats off to them for pulling off Mirror's Edge, BF1 and Battlefront 1, that is no easy feat, but clearly that shit took a toll and they just can't keep doing that shit expecting to keep up the quality.
It depends where the bottleneck was. Smaller focused teams can actually deliver surprisingly great innovative ideas and maybe we need to get better at composing than together than scaling teams to humongous depths. I was listening to this book by Ken Kocienda about how product creation happened during the golden days of Apple (where the foundations for what Cook is exploiting now were laid): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/152900473X/?tag=neogaf0e-20

The software team behind the key components of iOS when the iPhone (project Purple) was developed (like the keyboard, the homescreen/springboard, gesture recognition and multi touch, etc…) was very small. They just had great vision, communicated well, and iterated very very efficiently.
 
Last edited:
After the boring reboot-slog that was Mirror's Edge Catalyst, I honestly don't want any more of that series, let alone made by current Dice.
 

Larxia

Member
I never understood people saying Catalyst was terrible, especially if you liked the first one.

I can understand not enjoying it as much as the first one if you didn't like the formula changes. Yes the skill tree was useless, yes the ubisoft collectible were trash, but... I mean that's it?
The gameplay was still amazing, the visuals and art direction were fantastic, I personally did enjoy the "open world" and even if you're not fan of it, the actual story missions still have unique designs like in the first game etc.

Yes it has some flaws, but to the point of saying that it was this bad makes no sense to me if you already like the first one. I think that's exaggerated and people are way too extreme with their criticism.
I had a great time with Catalyst even if I wish some elements in it were different, it's still a very original and different game compared to most stuff out there.

Mirror's Edge is a franchise that I really like, the atmosphere in it is so unique, if they plan to never use it again, maybe it should be given to another studio.
 

ZywyPL

Banned
They already remade ME, and honestly I can't see what more could've been done to a game with such simple, minimalistic gameplay, it's fantastic as it is, and given the current state of DICE it's better if they stay away from ME as far as possible (and Bad Company series).

If they really want to focus solely on BF, they should IMO scale down the game back to 24-32 players, smaller but well designed maps, more vehicles, better balance, bringing back the destruction maybe. So yeah, basically make a proper BC3.
 
I really like Mirror’s Edge and even Catalyst too. Not the best games ever but unique in a sea of generic AAA games. But EA has been fucking up their games since the of the 360 era, so I was already not expecting any ME anytime soon. What do they have nowadays? Dead Space Remake? A game that didn’t need a remake, but that’s all they can come up with since they ruined the franchise with 3 and obviously know that that’s the fans’ sentiment.
 

Midn1ght

Member
I never understood people saying Catalyst was terrible, especially if you liked the first one.

I can understand not enjoying it as much as the first one if you didn't like the formula changes. Yes the skill tree was useless, yes the ubisoft collectible were trash, but... I mean that's it?
The gameplay was still amazing, the visuals and art direction were fantastic, I personally did enjoy the "open world" and even if you're not fan of it, the actual story missions still have unique designs like in the first game etc.

Yes it has some flaws, but to the point of saying that it was this bad makes no sense to me if you already like the first one. I think that's exaggerated and people are way too extreme with their criticism.
I had a great time with Catalyst even if I wish some elements in it were different, it's still a very original and different game compared to most stuff out there.

Mirror's Edge is a franchise that I really like, the atmosphere in it is so unique, if they plan to never use it again, maybe it should be given to another studio.
I think a lot of negativity come from the reveal trailer when people who loved the original were disappointed by the "open world" aspect of the new game.
I'm also guilty of judging the game before even playing it. Catalyst was fantastic, I truly hope the franchise is not dead and that we get another one eventually.
 

Von Hugh

Member
These idiots could have just made another Battlefield 4 and make Mirror's Edge 3 with the profit made from it, but instead focused on sucking the trendy woke dick and make the series another Fortnite. Worked out great, didn't it.
 

winjer

Gold Member
“We are only focusing on Battlefield 2042. There is no time for anything else and this is what we want to do. In three years, we want to be the first-person shooter powerhouse that DICE deserves to be, and that is what we’re going for.”

If they are only focusing in BF 2042, and this crap is the best they can do, then they are utterly incompetent.

But the reality is probably what we all know, and that has been reported by journalists. That Dice has abandoned BF 2042, only has a skeleton crew working on the game and is only doing the bare minimum not to get sued by those who bought the Premium passes.
 

ManaByte

Banned
The year is 2022 and EA made a Battlefield with cross-progression, meaning your unlocks persist across PC/Xbox/PS, but their Battlepass is platform specific; meaning you have to buy it separately on all platforms.
 

Ev1L AuRoN

Member
I wish EA understood that nobody cares about Battlefield.

The game is generic as they come, riddled with bugs, and the gunplay/gameplay is completely lacking a soul.

I doubt they turn it around.
That's not true for Battlefield as a franchise, but after Battlefield 4, the game is getting worst and worst at every new entry, I still love Battlefield 1, but I realize it's not a game for everyone, V is weak and 2042 is trash.
 

SSfox

Member
Dice is trash and this should be known from anyone at this point. I was done with Joke dev studio since ME2 and how they handled it like shit.
 

DGrayson

Mod Team and Bat Team
Staff Member
I wish EA understood that nobody cares about Battlefield.

The game is generic as they come, riddled with bugs, and the gunplay/gameplay is completely lacking a soul.

I doubt they turn it around.


There are tons of people that still care about BF. In fact I was just chatting with a firend today about upcoming games. This is a real transcript of our text conversation

"I really wanted to play division again but this new update turned it into a farming job"
"Weren’t you hyped on bf6? What happened there?"
"Game was a total fuck up. People stopped playing after a few months"
 
You missed the point.

It's like Mario having good controls, but bad game design (i.e. boring levels, boring enemies, boring challenges, boring powerups)

If Mirror's Edge does anything right it's the parkour movement. But just having good movement is not enough for a good game.
I can agree with this take regarding the second game, but not the first.

There have been deep dives and videos about how Catalyst's level design constantly fights against the great parkour design that was built upon from the first game, to the point where it truly felt like the level designer and parkour designer either didn't see eye to eye or at worst barely communicated to each other at all. Also, personally I feel like the devs didn't want combat in the 2nd game after all the criticisms regarding the first one, and instead they just wanted parkour running, parkour puzzling, and running away. However some suit might have pushed for it to still be in the game regardless.

The second game is like a house or building that was made to look beautiful on the outside but has terrible structural integrity, bad wiring, was built on unstable land, etc and yet still managed to be sold for a higher price than listed to an unsuspecting celebrity who thinks it's wonderful.
 

manfestival

Member
DICE just isnt the same.
I will add they had all the tools and knowhow to make a legit good battlefield.
The got atmosphere absolutely down pat with BF1.
They finally got movement to feel good in BFV.
All the customization options in BF3/4.

All they needed to do was combine all that into one game and they were sorted.
If BF1 still had a bunch of players I would actually still be playing it today.

But NO someone higher up decided they wanted to chase the hero shooter nonsense and reduce what made Battlefield so unique in the shooter arena.


Can they retrieve all the faith theyve lost.....call me a fool but I still believe in them somehow.
See you all in 2025.
Yeah I likely would be playing BF1 if it still had players. I still have it installed and boot it up from time to time but... servers are dead. Then the ones that MAY have people in them are far away and my ping is horrendous which sours any experience I may have. BF1 I had more fun with than 3,4,5,and 42. Only one I know I had more fun with was BC2.


Side note: I know many people have given up on BF as a franchise and with good/deserving reason. However, I finally have hope for the franchise with Vince Zampella taking charge of the next game. That man is basically the Tom Cruise Missile of the gaming industry.
 
Last edited:

TGO

Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
That is what they are chasing and they have their heart and the passion there. We want to be really, really proud of DICE.
what DICE did when they made Mirror's Edge is/was something to be proud of.
That is where your focus should be and should of been with Mirror's Edge Catalyst
If you're going to chase FPS dream that you'll never get from Infinity Ward at least do a Anniversary Remaster/Remake of the original Mirrors Edge and call it a day.
 
Last edited:
I would of liked a third person Mirrors Edge, keep the art style, improve on the parkour elements and combat, basically a better Assassins Creed style but on the flip side I suppose being first person is a strong element to the game.

It’s a shame it will be dormant, I feel there is a lot of potential there, VR another element that could of made it more appealing.
 
The Simpsons GIF by MOODMAN


Now some CoD studios got liberated from their slave work and DICE is stuck with focusing on Battlefield and nothing else. Oh, the irony!
 
Use your words yes.
At work? Put the video on mute and turn on closed captions. Here's my other post above to sum up:

I can agree with this take regarding the second game, but not the first.

There have been deep dives and videos about how Catalyst's level design constantly fights against the great parkour design that was built upon from the first game, to the point where it truly felt like the level designer and parkour designer either didn't see eye to eye or at worst barely communicated to each other at all. Also, personally I feel like the devs didn't want combat in the 2nd game after all the criticisms regarding the first one, and instead they just wanted parkour running, parkour puzzling, and running away. However some suit might have pushed for it to still be in the game regardless.

The second game is like a house or building that was made to look beautiful on the outside but has terrible structural integrity, bad wiring, was built on unstable land, etc and yet still managed to be sold for a higher price than listed to an unsuspecting celebrity who thinks it's wonderful.
 

Ryu Kaiba

Member
Mirror's Edge was literally the only thing EA made that I gave a damn about. What a shame.

Sure Catalyst had it's flaws, because everyone at the time thought an open world Mirror's Edge was a good idea. I get that it's not a sales monster, but that IP had a soul that made their studio somewhat relevant to me.

I still regularly listen to music arrangements of its soundtrack on YouTube just to zone out when the vibe is right.
 
Mirror's Edge was literally the only thing EA made that I gave a damn about. What a shame.

Sure Catalyst had it's flaws, because everyone at the time thought an open world Mirror's Edge was a good idea. I get that it's not a sales monster, but that IP had a soul that made their studio somewhat relevant to me.

I still regularly listen to music arrangements of its soundtrack on YouTube just to zone out when the vibe is right.

Kate Puzzle is my chill whilst walking track
 

Tomi

Member
Great, now i know i wont buy anything from them in the future because they dont understand what project is more important
 
Top Bottom